Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pushing to cut the food consumption tax from 8% to 1% for two years starting in April 2027, drawing criticism from party members and the IMF over high public debt risks.
India's power consumption increased by 10.93% year-on-year in July to 170.70 billion units, driven by high humidity and increased use of cooling appliances. Peak power demand also surged to 270.20 GW, nearing an all-time record, with experts predicting steady demand through August.
Queensland and the Northern Territory have rejected the federal government's plans to mandate renewable power use in AI datacentres, calling them 'underdeveloped ideas' that centralize power in Canberra, as S&P Global warns of potential five-fold increase in datacentre power use by 2035.
ブラジルの研究者らが8年間で1万2772人を調査した結果、人工甘味料の摂取量が多いほど記憶力や思考力の低下が速いことが判明。特に60歳未満の成人や糖尿病患者で顕著な関連が見られた。
Indian consumers are increasingly prioritizing experiences and lifestyle choices over basic needs, driven by rising incomes and easier credit access. Average monthly spending has increased across rural and urban areas, with food now forming a smaller portion of household expenditure, reflecting a broader economic transformation.
South Korean prosecutors have requested a one-year prison sentence and a 20m won fine for the owner of a two-Michelin-starred Seoul restaurant. The charges stem from violating food sanitation laws by serving desserts topped with ants, an insect not approved for consumption under local regulations.
The anonymous owner of a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in South Korea faces a one-year jail term for violating food safety regulations by serving black ants on sorbet. Seoul prosecutors requested the prison term, as only 10 insect species are approved for human consumption under South Korean law, and the ants were imported.
India's consumption patterns have dramatically shifted from basic needs to experiences and lifestyle choices, now driving nearly 60% of the country's GDP. While this boom is visible across urban and rural areas, fueled by rising incomes and aspirations, it also raises concerns about increasing household debt and financial insecurity, particularly among younger generations who prioritize immediate gratification over long-term savings.
The US Army's generative AI platform, Ask Sage, exhausted its annual token allocation in a month, leading to new usage limits for employees. This rapid consumption, despite initial unlimited access, mirrors similar challenges faced by other tech companies and raises questions about AI's practical utility and future funding within the DOD.
Renewed US attacks on Iran have closed the Strait of Hormuz, threatening global oil supplies and driving prices above $100, risking inflation and recession. China, the world's largest oil buyer, is unlikely to use its strategic reserves to cushion prices, a move that could prolong the conflict.
China's Ministry of Finance announced a new consumption tax on lithium-ion batteries and solar cells, effective September 1 and April 1 respectively, starting at 2% and rising to 4% a year later, impacting manufacturers and the electric vehicle sector.
Chinese tech giants like ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent are increasingly using AI tokens as an internal corporate currency to measure and bill AI service usage among employees. This trend is fueled by a brutal price war in China's AI industry, driving down costs and accelerating AI integration into daily workflows.
A Cambridge University study found Ethereum's energy intensity is among the lowest for proof-of-stake blockchains, using 33 kWh per $1 million of market value post-merge. While overall consumption is higher than some, its transition to PoS drastically cut energy use by ~99.96%.
South Korea's casino industry's performance is directly linked to inbound tourism, with Chinese visitor growth being the critical factor for the rest of the year. Analysts note a confirmed inbound boom, driven partly by a temporary visa-free program for Chinese group tourists launched last September.
A salmon farm in Chile's Los Lagos region replaced diesel generators with floating solar panels. The project cut diesel use by over 36,000 gallons annually and reduced emissions by 386 tonnes, while also creating a quieter, shaded environment that attracted thousands of salmon.
A salmon farm in Chile's Los Lagos region replaced diesel generators with floating solar panels, significantly reducing emissions and fuel use. The project also created a quieter, shaded environment, attracting thousands of salmon seeking shelter.
El economista Gonzalo Bernardos atribuye las dificultades de los jóvenes para ahorrar y comprar vivienda a sus "elevados hábitos de consumo", criticando que "uno no puede pegarse la vida padre y ahorrar a la vez".
A weaker-than-normal southwest monsoon could significantly impact India's rural economy, reducing farm incomes, increasing food inflation, and slowing consumption demand, according to S&P Global Ratings. Agriculture, agrochemicals, tractors, and microfinance sectors are expected to face the brunt of the impact.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has asked residents to conserve electricity by adjusting ACs to 78 degrees and limiting power use during an intense heat wave. The city is implementing similar measures in government buildings to ease pressure on the power grid.
Fast Retailing, parent of Uniqlo, saw same-store sales rise in May due to enhanced marketing and strong demand for summer products. The company reported significant revenue and profit growth for the nine-month period ending May, with Greater China being its second-largest market.
所有與中聯油脂製造的受污染食用油相關的產品，必須在今天中午前從貨架上移除。衛生福利部部長石崇良表示，超過此時間點仍在架上的產品將可安全食用，但違規業者將面臨嚴厲處罰。
US electricity demand is projected to rise significantly by 2027, driven by AI data centers and crypto operations. Bitcoin miners, now categorized alongside AI facilities, face a critical test of their ability to provide flexible load and curtailment services to stabilize the grid, especially during peak demand and scarcity pricing events.
An app-based cab driver in Delhi highlights the severe economic impact of poor road conditions, arguing that fixing potholes should be prioritized over the introduction of E20 petrol. He details increased repair costs, reduced earnings, and higher fuel consumption due to damaged roads, affecting millions of drivers and logistics operators.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed SpudCell, a synthetic system built from chemicals that mimics key life behaviors like eating, growing, copying genetic material, and dividing. While not strictly alive, it's the first to integrate these functions into a complete life cycle in a lab, marking a significant step in synthetic biology.
